Final answer:
Elder Mr. Darcy's will entailed the Pemberley estate to pass to a male heir, affecting Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy's marriage decisions in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice.'
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the will of the elder Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the estate of Pemberley was entailed to pass to Mr. Darcy's male heir. This situation put pressure on Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy to marry and produce a male heir of his own to inherit the estate, ensuring that it stayed within the family lineage. Without a direct male heir from Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins, a cousin, stood to inherit the estate. The entailment of the property was a common practice in Regency England and was a significant plot point in the novel as it affected relationships and decisions around marriage and family inheritance.